The Republican journal., 1887-08-18
The Grange Meeting In Belfast.

Owing to insufficient notice, some other rea
son, but small number of farmers had gathered
IN Peirce's Parlor Theatre, in this city, at T. NJ.
last Saturday, the hour and dry appointed for a
lecture from Hon. Mortimer Whitehead, Lecturer
OF the National Grange. The meeting,was called
to order by Mr.. A. l. Brown, the deputy of Waldo
county. ENGov. ROBBIE, Master of the State
Grange, was first introduced. He said he was not
expected at the meeting but came on his own
HOOK II the members were not pleased to see
him he was pleased to see them. The Patrons of
Waldo county are good livcrs and he had more
than one occasion accepted their hospitality. He
regretted that no more were present, and wished
that every farmer in Waldo county could attend.
lie spoke ofthe honorable calling of farmer and
said that the crops measured the prosperity of the
country When the crops failed, business was
dull; when the harvest was abundant prosperity
prevailed everywhere. In 1870 agriculture repre-
sented - per cent. of the taxable property of the
country. In 1880 it had fallen to "A per cent. Now
other classes of property ahead Of agricu lure
Farmers must organize for self preservation. The
Governor said he had travelled over large sections
of this country and Europe, and he did not know
OF more independent and moral population than
we have in Maine.
Mr.. Whitehead the National Lecturer, was next
introduced. lie sail he was disappointed that the
banner county of the banner state was not better
represented His idea for the better condition of
the farmer was education, organization and con
ccntration, which can be had through the grange
wherever you see school, church and grange
hall you will find an Intelligent community. Know
ledge is power. The man Of large brains gets the
most wages. In the oen time it was thought that
all that was necessary To run Il farm was muscle.
Education is necessary in other calngs, why not
in the farmer? Farmers have had the ability to
necessary to sell The grange is obviating al this
heretofore the farmer would say to the merchant
what are you paying for produce?" thus allowing
them to fin the price. Now the intelligent farmer
knows what his crop is worth, and by concentra
ton can command his price. The lecturer discuss
Ell the gambling in wheat and corn, saving there
were more of these products sold titan there were
raised He would like to gambling in products
prohibited by national laws. This can lie brought
about by the farmer through the grange The lee
turer told of how the farmer has changed lcgisa-
ton through united efforts in the grange, particu-
larry the defeat of the Morrison tariff bill He said
the farmer objected to tariff that placed raw ma
tcr!al on the free list and protected the manufac-
ture'l article with duty of 10 per cent. The
grange did not Interfere in politics save to make
better Republican Of a Republican and better
Democrat of Il Democrat. The grange is also
temperance organization and ennobling in its in
lluehcc. The lecture was well delivered and well
received. At the close Mr.. Whitehead instructed
the Patrons in the secret work of the order